Elevator lift mechanism



Aug. 5, 1958 ELEVATOR LIFT MECHANISM Filed Nov. 14, 1955 52 54 3| 3k: 3: H O i.

3lb U 32 ,INVENTORS L. B. NEIGHBOUR o. P. LANCE A B. SKROMME United States Patent ELEVATOR LIFT MECHANISM Leonard B. Neighbour, Orville P. Lance, and Arnold B. Skromme, Moline, Ill., assignors to Deere & Company, Moline, [1]., a corporation of Illinois Application November 14, 1955,-Serial No. 546,361

6 Claims. (Cl. 198120.5)

This invention relates to a material conveyor of the type having a mobile frame, an elevator mounted thereon, and adjusting means between the frame and the elevator for regulating the height of the discharge end of the elevator. More particularly this invention relates to a power driven means for operating the adjusting means, the power driven means being operated from an outside power source such as a tractor.

The usual type of portable conveyor has a long crop or material elevator which is mounted at its center or slightly to the rear of its center on a supporting wheel structure. The framework mounting the elevator on the supporting wheel structure is normally adjustable to regu late the angle of inclination of the elevator relative to the ground. The forward or intake end of the elevator normally rests upon the ground, and vertical adjustment of the elevator will normally result in raising or lowering the discharge end of the elevator. When the elevator is of relatively light weight construction or of relatively small size, adjusting the height creates no problem inasmuch as it may be done manually by a winch or other type of mechanical advantage lift mounted at the forward or intake end of the elevator. However, when using a heavier type of elevator or one of extreme length, which has become more popular in recent years, the mere mechanical advantage of a standard type which has become insufiicient and it is desirable to obtain a power operated type of lifting mechanism for adjusting the height of the elevator.

It is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide a hydraulic lift system which may be operated from the hydraulic power source on a tractor and which is relatively simple to operate and inexpensive to manuthe-elevator at the height desired and which will permit the hydraulic unit to be removed or disconnected from the elevator.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art as the nature of the invention is better understood fiom the following detailed description illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Fig. l is a side elevation of portions of a tractor and elevator which incorporates the subject lifting mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the elevator lifting mechanism showing the hydraulic unit in its retracted position.

Fig. 3 is a side view similar to Fig. 2 showing the hydraulic unit in its extended position.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 design; consequently description of it shall be made gen- 2,846,047 Patented Aug. 5, 1958 'ice erally and not in detail and only sufiicient for purposes of fully understanding the use and operation of the particular mechanism for adjusting the elevator vertically. For a more complete description of the elevator, reference is made to U. S. Patent 2,604,203.

The conveyor is made up of a fore-and-aft elongated elevator 11 supported primarily on a pair of transversely spaced wheels 12. At the forward end of the elevator 11 is connected a hopper or dump 13 for receiving materials to be elevated. A tractor 14 is positioned proximate to the forward end of the elevator and is provided with a hydraulic valve system mounted under the valve housing 15. Included in the hydraulic system are flexible conduits or hydraulic hoses 16 and 17. Also provided at the forward end of the elevator is an elevator lift mechanism, later to be explained, mounted under a safety housing 18.

The elevator 11 is supported on the wheels 12 by means of supporting framework comprising a mast 20 projecting substantially upright from the wheel axle, a boom or derrick 21 inclined rearwardly from the wheel axle and connected at its upper end to a discharge portion of the elevator 11, and a reach member 22 projecting forwardly from the wheel axles and pivotally connected at its forward end to a lower portion of the elevator 11. The mast 20 is of tubular construction having at its upper end, in telescoping relation with the mast, a mast extension 23. The extension 23 is provided with suitable means for regulating the extent it may project above the upper end of the mast.

Means for raising or lowering the elevator by adjusting the angular position between the reach 22 and the derrick 21 is accomplished by means of a cable 24 havingopposite ends mounted on winch pulleys 25, 26 on opposite sides of the elevator 11 and fixed to a rotatable member or shaft 27 having opposite ends extending outwardly of the side panels 28, 29 of the elevator 11. The cable 24 extends rearwardly for connection to the rear end portion of the derrick 21. The connection of the cable 24 may be made in any suitable manner, the preferred manner being however to extend the cable througha transverse tubular member 30 fixed at the rear of the derrick and to the bottom of the elevator 11 thereby permitting the cable 24 to be positioned on opposite sides of the elevator. The extension 23 of the mast 20 engages the cable midway between the tubular member 30 and the winch pulleys 25, 26. By rotating the member or shaft 27 in one direction to wind the cable 24 around the winch pulleys 25, 26, the angular displacement between the derrick 21 and reach 22 is thereby reduced causing the angle of inclination of the elevator 11 relative to the ground to be increased. Likewise rotation of the shaft or member 27 in the opposite direction to permit the cable 24 to unwind from the winch pulleys 25, 26 will increase the angular displacement between the derrick 21 and reach 22 thereby permitting the elevator 11 to be positioned at a smaller angle of inclination relative to the ground.

At the forward end of the elevator 11 is a hydraulic unit or motor 31 of the usual type in which there'is provided a hydraulic cylinder and a reciprocating piston operated by a fluid passing through the hoses 16 and 17. A hydraulic ram 31a, integral with the piston, projects rearwardly from the hydraulic unit '31 and is provided with a mounting element or clevis 31b connected to a vertically disposed cross piece 32. The hydraulic unit 31 is also provided with a mounting element or clevis 31c which is mounted over a pin secured to the toe or base part of the elevator 11. A ratchet 33 is keyed as at 34 to rotate in unison with the rotatable member or shaft 27. Associated with the ratchet is a pair of one 3. way drive means or pawls 35, 36 which are angularly spaced about the ratchet 33 and which are biased into engagement with the ratchet by means of Springs 37, 38. Supporting the pawls 35, 36 are arm members 40, 41. The arm member 40, supporting the pawl 35, is made up of two portions 40a and 4tlbxpositioned on-opposite .sides of the ratchet 33. The arm member-41, supporting the pawl 36, is made up of two portions 41a and 41b positioned on opposite sides of the ratchet '33. The pawl 35 is alsopositioned between the arm portions 40a and 40b and is carried by a pin 42 which extends through suitable apertures in the arm portions. Likewise the pawl 36 is positioned between the arm members 41a and 41b and is carried by apin 43 which extends through suitable apertures in the arm portions 41a and 41b. The arm members 40, 41 are rotatably mounted on the shaft 27 and serve to restrict thepawls 35, '36 to movement adjacent to the periphery of the ratchet 33. A pair of links 44, 45 extend between the cross piece 32 on the end of the ram 31a and the ends of the respective arms 40, 41. The links 44, 45 are necked down at their rear ends to a tubular shape, as at 46 and 47 (Fig. 4) and are fixed, as by welding or other suitable means, to U- shaped brackets 48, 49 respectively which in turn are received between the arm portions 40a, 40b and 41a and 41b respectively and are pivotally connected thereto by means of pins 50, and 51. The forward end of the links 44 and 45 are also provided with U-brackets 52, 53 which fit over the cross piece 32 and are pivotally secured thereto by means of pins 54, 55, extending through the respective U bracket and the cross piece.

To lift the elevator, the ratchet 33 and shaft 27 must move in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 2 and 3. When the hydraulic ram 31a moves from its retracted position, as shown in Fig. 2, to its extended position, as shown in Fig. 3, the pawl 36 will engage the ratchet 33 thereby driving it in a counterclockwise direc tion while thepawl 35 will ride over the teeth of the ratchet. When the hydraulic ram 31a moves from its extended position, as shown in Fig. 3, to its retracted position in Fig. 2, the pawl 35 will engage the teeth of the ratchet 33 thereby driving the ratchet in a counterclockwise directiou, while the pawl 36 rides over the teeth of the ratchet 33. Thus, any movement of the hydraulic ram 31a will operate to drive the ratchet 33 counterclockwise thereby raising the elevator 11.

A brake drum 60 is keyed as at 61 to the opposite end portion of the shaft 27. A brake band or strap 62 is mounted over the drum 60 and has one end anchored, as at 63 to the elevator housing. The opposite end of the band 62 is connected to a brake lever '64 which is pivotally mounted on a transverse pin 65. The band 62 may be tightened around the drum 60 either by moving the lever 64 forwardly or rearwardly. A spring 66 biases the lever 64 rearwardly while a rope is connected to the lever 64 and extends to a position approximate to the operators station on the tractor. Viewing Fig. it becomes apparent that a forward'pull on the rope 67 will first loosen the band 62 on the drum 60. After the initial movement of releasing the drum, further pull on the rope 67 will move the connection between the band 62 and lever 64 downwardly and may, upon sufficient forward movement of the lever 64, again cause the brake band to tighten on'the drum thereby locking the shaft 27 against rotation. In the normal position of the brake assembly, that is when the only pressure applied on the drum is created by the force of the spring 66, the drum 60 is locked against rotation in a clockwise direction but is not locked against counterclockwise rotation. Thus, the brake is basically a one-way brake or lock serving to prevent the elevator 11 from dropping when the pawls 35, 36 are not engaged with the ratchet 33 and also serving to maintain the elevator 11 at a fixed height when the hydraulic unit is disconnected from the elevator or is not in operation.

Mounted on the elevator at the rear of the ratchet 33 are two cam arms 70, 71. The arms are mounted for vertical swinging on a short transverse shaft 72 projecting outwardly from the side panel 28 of the elevator. Springs 73 and 74 serve to bias the arms 70, 71 into engagement with stops 75, 76 which limit their forward movement. The arm 70 is positioned to engage a lug 77, which is integral with the pawl 35 and serves upon engagement to overcome the spring pressure 37 thereby causing the pawl 35 to disengage from the ratchet 33. Likewise the arm 71 is positioned to engage a' lug 78 on the pawl 36 and serves upon engagement with the lug 78 to overcome the pressure created by the spring 38 thereby raising the pawl 36 from engagement with the ratchet 33. The arms 70 and 71 are positioned to disengage the pawls 35, 36 from the ratchet 33 at the end of the extension stroke of the hydraulic ram 31a. Therefore, at this position of the hydraulic ram 31a the brake band 62 is the only means for preventing the elevator from dropping. At this position, therefore, the elevator 11 may be lowered by pulling forwardly on the rope 67 thereby releasing the band 62.from the surface of the brake drum 60 to permit the elevator to gravitate. Thus, no manual labor other than that required to release the brake or to operate the hydraulic unit is required to raise or lower the elevator.

While only one form of the invention has been shown, it should be recognized that other forms and variations could exist without departing basically from the broad general principles herein disclosed. It should, therefore, be understood that while the preferred form has been described with the view of clearly and concisely illustrating the invention, it is desired not to limit or narrow the invention beyond that which is claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In a material conveyor including a frame, an elevator mounted thereon and adjusting means between the elevator and frame responsive to rotation of a member in one direction to raise the elevator and upon rotation in an opposite direction to lower the elevator, the improvement residing in means for rotating the member comprising: a ratchet fixed to rotate in unison with the member; a pair of pawls associated with and angularly spaced about the ratchet; a pair of links; means connecting each of the links to a respective pawl including means restricting said pawls to movement adjacent to the periphery of the ratchet; means biasing the pawls into engagement with the ratchet; a hydraulically operated ram connected to each of the links and operative on its extension stroke to cause one of the pawls to drive the ratchet in said one direction of rotation, and on its retracting stroke to cause the other pawl to drive the ratchet in said one direction of rotation; releasable -one-way brake means associated with the member for preventing rotation thereof in said opposite direction; and means for disengaging the pawls to permit rotation of the member in said opposite direction upon release of the brake means.

2. In a material conveyor including a frame, an elevator mounted thereon and adjusting means between the elevator and frame responsive to rotation of a member in one direction to raise the elevator and upon rotation in an opposite direction to lower the elevator, the improvement residing in means for rotating the member comprising: a ratchet fixed to rotate in unison with the member; a pair of pawls associated with the ratchet; a hydraulically operated ram; means connecting the ram to the pawls including means spacing the pawls around the ratchet whereby the ram will operate on its extension stroke to cause one of the pawls to drive the ratchet in said one direction of rotation, and on its retracting stroke to cause the other pawl to drive the ratchet in said one direction of rotation; releasable one-way brake means associated with the member'fo'r preventing rotation there.- of in said opposite direction; and means for disengaging the pawls to permit rotation of the member in said opposite direction upon release of the brake means.

3. In a tractor and matcrial-handling conveyor arrangement in which the tractor has a self-contained hydraulic system of the type including a control valve housing and a hydraulic motor having a cylinder connected by elongated flexible conduits to the valve housing and provided with a piston rod and the conveyor includes a frame, an elevator connected thereto and adjusting means between the elevator and frame responsive to rotation of a member in a given direction to adjust the elevator vertically, the improvement residing in means for rotating said member comprising: first and second one-way drives associated with the member for rotating the member; means for mounting the cylinder on the elevator; means connecting the piston to the first and second one-way drives whereby the one-way drives will successively operate upon alternate strokes of the piston to rotate the member in the given direction; and a lock associated with the member for selectively preventing rotation of the member.

4. In a tractor and material-handling conveyor arrangement in which the tractor has a self-contained hydraulic system of the type including a control valve housing and a hydraulic motor having a cylinder connected by elongated flexible conduits to the valve housing and provided with a piston rod and the conveyor includes a frame, an elevator connected thereto and adjusting means between the elevator and frame responsive to rotation of a member in a given direction to adjust the elevator vertically, the improvement residing in means for rotating said member comprising: a ratchet fixed to rotate in unison with the member; a pair of pawls associated with and angularly spaced about the ratchet; a pair of links; means connecting each of the links to a respective pawl including means restricting said pawls to movement adjacent to the periphery of the ratchet; means biasing the pawls into engagement with the ratchet; means connecting the piston to each of the links whereby movement of the piston on its extension stroke will cause one of the pawls to drive the ratchet in said one direction of rotation, and movement in its retracting stroke will cause the other pawl to drive the ratchet in said one direction of rotation; releasable one-way brake means associated with the member for preventing rotation thereof in said opposite direction; and means for disengaging the pawls to permit rotation of the member in said opposite direction upon release of the brake means.

5. In a material conveyor including a frame, an elevator mounted thereon and adjusting means between the elevator and frame responsive to rotation of a member in one direction to raise the elevator and upon rotation in an opposite direction to lower the elevator, the improvement residing in means for rotating the member comprising: a ratchet fixed to rotate in unison with the member; a pawl associated with the ratchet; a link; means connecting the link to the pawl including means restricting said pawl to movement adjacent to the periphery of the ratchet; means biasing the pawl into engagement with the ratchet; a hydraulically operated reciprocating ram connected to the link and operative on one of its strokes to cause the pawl to drive the ratchet in said one direction of rotation; releasable one-way brake means associated with the member for preventing rotation thereof in said opposite direction; and means for disengaging the pawl to permit rotation of the member in said opposite direction upon release of the brake means.

6. In a tractor and material-handling conveyor arrangement in which the tractor has a self-contained hydraulic system of the type including a control valve housing and a hydraulic motor having a cylinder connected by elongated flexible conduits to the valve housing and provided with a piston rod and the conveyor includes a frame, an elevator connected thereto and adjusting means between the elevator and frame responsive to rotation of a member in a given direction to adjust the elevator vertically, the improvement residing in means for rotating said member comprising: one-way drive means associated with the member for rotating the member; means for mounting the cylinder on the elevator; means connecting the piston to the one-way drive means whereby the one-way drive means will operate upon reciprocating strokes of the piston to rotate the member in the given direction; and a lock associated with the member for selectively preventing rotation of the member.

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